[x0ner]

The word "passion" is charged these days, but as someone who has successfully completed a number of long journeys (opensource projects, sale of company, 15 years of cardio, etc.), I think that has been the key to my success. In other words, you have to love what you are doing and then your interests will dwindle less.

Even with love, it can be difficult to remain focused. A trick I do when I run is to constantly recalibrate my goals as I am going. If I am having a hard time a few miles in, I tell myself to get to the next quarter and then the next until it's a half. Eventually it's a mile and I start again if I need to or expand scope. I will apply this same technique to life and have found it can be very useful.

If you've tried all of those, consider the process of abstaining from something or extreme focusing for a set period of time, say drinking alcohol or performing a 1 min plank every day for 30 days. I will do these exercises and the feeling I get from them is similar to the dragging feeling at the final 25% of a project. It conditions you to push through it because at the end of the day, it's only 30 days.

And I guess as a catch-all, if you really want to see it through, make that your goal––To complete one single project from start to finish, no matter what.